Obit: Nicole Rowene "Nicci" Henke

Nicole Rowene “Nicci” Henke, 70, of Devils Lake, N.D., passed away at her home in the loving care of family and Hospice, on Wednesday morning, March 13, 2013.

Nicole Rowene “Nicci” Henke, 70, of Devils Lake, N.D., passed away at her home in the loving care of family and Hospice, on Wednesday morning, March 13, 2013.

A memorial service for Nicci will be held on Sunday, March 17 at 2 p.m. at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Devils Lake with Rev. Timothy Stout officiating. Friends may call at the church on Sunday one hour prior to the service. Everyone is welcome to attend and invited for lunch following the service.

Special Music will be provided by Erika Berg, violinist, Irving Thompson, vocalist and Mavis Blake, organist.

Nicole Rowene Henke was born at a birthing center in Mandan, N.D. on August 10, 1942. She grew up in Center, N.D., the daughter of Oliver and Enid ‘nee (Henderscheid) Gullickson. While growing up she loved her farm life and spent as much time as she could on her grandparents’, aunts’, uncles’ and cousins’ farms. She and her cousins spent many hours riding horse-back and playing with the farm animals.

Nicole graduated from Center High School and attended North Dakota State University in Fargo for three years. She graduated from Minot State University with a degree in education, with special emphasis on education of the deaf.

Nicole married Merle Henke in 1963 and they moved from Rugby to Devils Lake where she worked for the North Dakota School for the Deaf for 32 years, retiring in 1997. She then worked part-time for Lake Region Special Education as a consultant to the hearing impaired and also did substitute teaching during that time. She ended that job in 2004 and she and Merle traveled to several places within the United States. In 2006, she was diagnosed with cancer and their lives changed to center around medical concerns.

Nicole was a member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church and the LWML, serving as an officer locally and as a district officer. She also was a member of the North Dakota Retired Teachers Organization. Loving family members that survive Nicole are her husband, Merle; children and grandchildren, daughter, Karla Henke of Peachtree City, Ga. and her children Ariana Berg and Erika Berg and son, Shannon Henke of Bismarck, N.D. and his children, Mallorie Henke and Samuel Henke; sister, Gloria and her husband Dewey Albers of Hemet, Calif. and their children Wesey and Melody; sister-in-law, Verlaine (Leslie) Gullickson of Fargo, N.D. and her children, Stacy and Kirstin; several aunts and cousins.

Nicole was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Leslie; niece, Stephanie.

Friends may sign the online register book and share memories of Nicci at www.gilbertsonfuneralhome.com